[25][26] Downtown Red Bank is notable for its many local and well-known businesses including Garmany, Urban Outfitters, and Tiffany & Co.[27] on and around Broad Street.

The area of modern-day Red Bank was the territory of the Algonquian-speaking Lenape Native Americans, also called the Delaware by the English.

The Native Americans traded freely with European settlers from England and the Dutch Republic in the mid-17th century, who purchased land in the area.

[35] By 1844, Red Bank had become a commercial and manufacturing center, focused on textiles, tanning, furs, and other goods for sale in Manhattan.

With the dredging of the Navesink River about 1845, Red Bank became a port from which steamboats transported commuters to work in Manhattan.

Red Bank grew in size as a result, and because the Raritan and Delaware Bay Railroad constructed a railway in the town in 1860.

[42] Red Bank is bordered by the Monmouth County municipalities of Fair Haven, Little Silver, Middletown, Shrewsbury and Tinton Falls.

The largest is the historic commercial center of Downtown Red Bank, which mainly runs along Broad Street.

Downtown includes a mixed variety of businesses, restaurants, and entertainment, ranging from high end retailers and fine dining to cheap eats and food.

[56] As of 2019, Red Bank has 11,325 jobs in a variety of sectors, such as retail, healthcare, construction, food services, arts and entertainment, hospitality, etc.

The largest employers following the hospital include Super Foodtown, Colliers Engineering & Design, Arrow Limousine Worldwide, Oceanfirst Financial Corp., Torcon, Seals Eastern Inc., Molly Pitcher Inn, Giordano, Halleran, & Ciesla; and Red Bank Catholic High School.

[65] The Count Basie Theatre[62] has hosted performers such as Kevin Smith, Ariana Grande,[66] Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi, The Beach Boys, David Sedaris, Tracy Morgan, Bob Newhart, Foreigner, Andy Williams, Brian Setzer, and B.B.

[73] Each year from 1960 through 2011, a fireworks display was launched from the Navesink River close to Red Bank on July 3, the eve of Independence Day.

[75] Musical groups from Red Bank include alternative rock band Young Rising Sons.

The race moved to Red Bank in 1994 and was renamed in honor of George A. Sheehan, the prominent author, philosopher and area physician.

[79] In January 2018, FC Monmouth announced that Red Bank's Count Basie Park would be the home stadium for the team's inaugural season.

[80] The team's owners selected the park based on Red Bank's central location in the county both geographically and in terms of the local economy, along with the fact that the stadium will be easily accessible by car and by public transportation via NJ Transit rail and bus.

The largest is Count Basie Park, which includes baseball fields, basketball courts, playground, track, a small trail along Mohawk Pond, and restrooms.

Bellhaven Nature Area sits along the Swimming River, which includes a turtle access point, playground, picnic table, benches, and lawn.

[83] The Monmouth Boat Club, Marine Park, and the slips of the Molly Pitcher Inn provide access to the Navesink and, from there, Sandy Hook and the Gateway National Recreation Area, the Jersey Shore and the Atlantic Ocean.

[116][117] In the 2008 presidential election, Obama received 63.2% of the vote (3,129), ahead of Republican John McCain with 34.0% (1,682) and other candidates with 0.9% (47), among the 4,948 ballots cast by the borough's 6,669 registered voters, for a turnout of 74.2%.

[118] In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 58.1% of the vote (2,849), outpolling Republican George W. Bush with 40.4% (1,984) and other candidates with 0.6% (42), among the 4,905 ballots cast by the borough's 6,856 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 71.5.

[119] In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 56.4% of the vote (1,527), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 41.2% (1,116), and other candidates with 2.4% (65), among the 2,772 ballots cast by the borough's 6,510 registered voters (64 were spoiled), for a turnout of 42.6%.

[120][121] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 46.0% of the vote (1,460), ahead of Christie with 45.9% (1,457), Independent Chris Daggett with 6.3% (200) and other candidates with 0.8% (24), among the 3,176 ballots cast by the borough's 6,332 registered voters, a 50.2% turnout.

[132][133] Students from other Monmouth County municipalities are eligible to attend the high school for its five academy programs, with admission on a competitive basis.

Electric service operates from New York Penn Station to Long Branch, New Jersey, where the electrified portion of the line ends.

A bronze bust of him was commissioned to mark what would have been his 100th birthday in 2004, and placed in the plaza outside the Red Bank train station.

Putting in a telephone call to that town's Chief of Police in advance, Thurber is told by a desk sergeant, "Ain't no violence over here.

"[152] Some of the films of Kevin Smith, who lived in Red Bank while working as an up-and-coming director, are partially set there, including Chasing Amy, Dogma, and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.

[155] Smith and View Askew Productions also host the annual Vulgarthon film marathon in various theaters around Red Bank.